ARTISANworks

As an art space, ARTISANworks is a massive collective of stunning work by local talent, with a business model that puts financial support of artists first. As an event space, it’s a thrilling, kaleidoscopic setting with an edge like no other in Rochester. And, in general, it’s just a cool place to visit.

A self-funding nonprofit, ARTISANworks lives within multiple interconnected former warehouse and factory buildings on Blossom Road near the intersection of Winton Road. With 40,000 square feet of renovated art space, it holds some 500,000 pieces of artwork, antiques, automobiles and memorabilia by local artisans.

Unlike traditional art galleries, where work is usually sold on a consignment arrangement, every piece inside the sprawling facility has already been purchased by ARTISANworks, thus ensuring financial support to the artist. ARTISANworks then supports itself through a combination of resales of those pieces and by renting out various wings of the facility for events.

About a dozen different rooms and galleries each offer different accommodations for different event needs, from the Retro Room room designed for small gatherings of 20 or fewer to the Main Showroom, which holds up to 100 people complete with a hardwood dance floor, balcony, bandstand area and private bar — a hot spot for wedding receptions and other large parties. All spaces are chock-full full of eye-grabbing artwork, and most can be paired with adjacent rooms to increase guest capacity.